U.S. patent number 8,279,107 [Application Number 12/805,467] was granted by the patent office on 2012-10-02 for radar vehicle detection system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Innovapark LLC. Invention is credited to Eric Groft, Scott Keller, Chris Krstanovic.
United States Patent |
8,279,107 |
Krstanovic , et al. |
October 2, 2012 |
Radar vehicle detection system
Abstract
A radar parking detection system with a Ultra Wide Band (UWB)
detection and transmission system including a hardened radar device
placed in the vicinity of a parking space to be monitored by using
measurements of time delays observed in the reflection of radio
waves reflected from objects in the proximity of the transmitted
waves and further including a hardened electronic sensor using
(UWB) frequencies to determine the presence or absence of a vehicle
in the parking space at close range; and a radio transmitter using
multiple data transmission to limit the amount of lost data and to
communicate changes in status of the parking space.
Inventors: |
Krstanovic; Chris (Windham,
NH), Keller; Scott (Still River, MA), Groft; Eric
(Somerville, MA) |
Assignee: |
Innovapark LLC (NY)
|
Family
ID: |
43244972 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/805,467 |
Filed: |
August 2, 2010 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20110063156 A1 |
Mar 17, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
342/27;
342/118 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01S
13/04 (20130101); G01S 7/032 (20130101); G08G
1/14 (20130101); G01S 13/91 (20130101); G08G
1/168 (20130101); G01S 13/0209 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G01S
13/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;342/118-146 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Brainard; Timothy A
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lasker, Esq.; R. J.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A Radar Parking Detection System, comprising: an Ultra Wide Band
detection and transmission system including a hardened radar device
placed in the vicinity of a parking space to be monitored by using
measurements of time delays observed in radio waves reflected from
objects in the proximity of the transmitted waves; said radar
detection system including a hardened electronic sensor using Ultra
Wide Band frequencies to determine the presence or absence of a
vehicle in the parking space at close range; a radio transmitter
using multiple data transmission to limit the amount of lost data
and to communicate changes in status of the parking space and the
Ultra Wide Band detection and transmission system in which the
multiple transmissions use random pause lengths between each
transmission attempt; and said radio transmitter also transmits the
operability of said detection and transmission system.
2. A Radar Parking Detection System as in claim 1, wherein the
[UWB] Ultra Wide Band detection and transmission system is packaged
in a low-profile shell made of glass-filled nylon or some other
similar substance and mounted to the surface of the parking space
using a high-tensile strength adhesive and mounting screws to
ensure the integrity of the low-profile shell.
3. A Radar Parking Detection System as in claim 2, further
comprising an antenna, mechanical subsystem and power subsystem and
wherein the sensing subsystem, transmitting system, power
subsystem, the antenna and mechanical subsystem are enclosed in
said low-profile shell.
4. A Radar Parking Detection System as in claim 1, wherein said
detection and transmission system is placed in at least one of the
roadbed of the parking space, the bordering curb or parking bumper
in the front and to the side of the parking space.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The Radar Parking Detection System of the present invention employs
a specific form of radar technology to Remote Asset Management
(RAM) parking systems such as that disclosed in U.S. patent Ser.
No. 11/802,244, filed 21 May 2007.
2. Related Art
The provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/202,201, filed 5
Feb. 2009, which relates to multiple task specific processors such
as an Application Processor, a Meter Controller and a Radio
Processor, all controlled via shared SPI bus and using rechargeable
batteries and solar power sources for controlling and monitoring a
vehicle parking meter system.
The invention entitled: Parking System Employing RAM Techniques,
Ser. No. 11/802,244, filed 21 May 2007, which relates to the
management of vehicle parking systems and, in particular, to such
systems using remote management techniques for enhancing management
efficiency and to provide solutions to the parking system that
could not otherwise be managed by: (1) sensing, collecting,
recording and displaying data regarding all aspects of the
environment pertaining to the parking system; (2) analyzing the
data collected to create actionable outputs responsive to the needs
of the public and the management of the parking system; (3)
communicating with the various parking system components; and (4)
receiving feedback to perform requested operations for the parking
system.
The problem solved by the Radar Parking Detection System of the
present invention is that while inductance loop vehicle detection
remains the most reliable form of vehicle detection for monitoring
the stationary vehicles in a parking space, installation of
inductance loops may be impractical in certain situations. The use
of other sensors has often been impractical by interference for
movement and events outside of the intended monitored space of the
parking space being monitored.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The Radar Parking Detection System of the present invention's
preferred embodiment is that of a hardened electronics device
placed in the roadbed of the space to be monitored. The electronics
contain a sensor using Ultra Wide-Band frequencies to determine the
presence or absence of a vehicle in the space. Other radar
technologies can also be used for the determination of presence or
absence of a vehicle. The electronics also contain a radio
transmitter to communicate changes in status of either the space or
the monitoring sensor's operability to a radio collector such as
one described in the RAM Patent.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a conceptual form of the invention; and
FIG. 2 is a block diagram representation of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
1. Use of Radar Technologies in a RAM Parking System
The use of induction loops for vehicle detection--while accurate,
reliable and able to detect non-moving vehicles for extended
periods of time--can be expensive or impractical to install. Other
methods of detection are easily disrupted by disruption of
lime--of--sight blockages, nearby magnetic field changes or an
inability to track changes in the sensing environment.
Radar systems employ electrical circuits that are able to detect
the presence or absence of objects by using measurements of time
delays observed in the reflection of radio waves as they are
reflected from objects in the proximity of the transmission of said
waves. Radar devices can be placed either in the roadbed of the
parking space or otherwise the bordering curb or parking bumper in
the front of, or to the side of the parking space. This placement
avoids issues with detection being disrupted by malicious or
inadvertent interference by objects passing between the detection
unit and the space being monitored.
2. Use of Ultra Wide Band Radar Technologies in a RAM Parking
System
Many radar technologies are not able to detect objects in close
proximity while maintaining efficient power consumption levels
needed for practical application in parking systems.
UWB radar systems employ electrical circuits that are able to
detect the presence or absence of objects at close range with a
highly efficient power consumption rate. This attribute allows them
to effectively be used in the stead of induction loop technologies
with a negligible reduction in accuracy and reliability.
3. Use of a Multiple Attempt--No Acknowledgement Communications
Scheme
Radio transmissions require a relatively larger amount of power
simply to energize the transmitting antenna and circuitry. This
consumption is furthered when receiving transmissions to establish
an acknowledgement sequence to the upstream radio device. Without
some sort of acknowledgement and re-try logic, individual messages
are likely to be lost in transmission causing incomplete data and
inaccurate information to be processed by the RAM system's
centralized Command and Control Interface. Much of the data loss is
also attributed to many devices attempting to communicate at the
same time.
The UWB Parking Detection System uses multiple transmissions to
guard against lost data. By transmitting the data many times by
default, the amount of lost data is minimized. To protect against
two devices attempting to communicate at the exact same time each
time a transmission is attempted, the system uses random pause
lengths between each transmission attempt. This allows the two
devices competing to transmit their message to the collector
interfere with each other only once. The next time each device
attempts to send the message, the random pause length will cause
one device to wait longer than the other before making its second
attempt.
4. Use of a Hardened Housing Encasement Made of Glass-Filled Nylon
or Other Similar Material
Devices deployed for the purpose of parking space monitoring are
often subject to harsh use. The placement of UWB devices in the
roadbed of the space only amplifies the hostile environment in
which the electronics must operate. In particular, the devices are
subject to vehicles driving over them and angry parking patrons
subjecting them to vandalism attempts.
The UWB system is packaged in a low-profile shell made of
glass-filled nylon or some other similar substance. This substance
is highly durable and cost-effective to produce. The shell is
mounted to the surface of the space using high-tensile strength
adhesives and mounting screws to ensure it is very difficult to
damage. For installations in curbs or parking bumpers, the same
materials can be used to form a casing which can be installed into
portions cut out from the curb or bumper using similar
adhesives.
System Overview
FIG. 1 conceptually illustrates the batteries arranged around the
outside of the electronics package 3 and wherein the sensing
subsystem, transmitting subsystem, the power subsystem and the
mechanical subsystem are mounted. An antenna 4 is mounted to the
electronics board for transmission of data and a protective housing
5 encloses the components as described above.
FIG. 2 shows the essential components of the Radar Detection System
of the present invention, wherein the UWB Radar-Based Sensing
Subsystem, as described above, and the Transmitting Subsystem are
energized by the Power Subsystem.
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